Back on its 18th season, Manila’s annual Película Spanish Film Festival will run at cinemas in Greenbelt 3, Makati next month, showcasing some 19 award-winning Spanish and Latin American films produced in recent years.
Running from Oct. 3 – 13 and presented by the Instituto Cervantes de Manila in conjunction with the Spanish culture and language consulate in the Philippines, Película’s program this year will cover four years (2016 to 2019) of what you might have missed so far in the best of Spanish and Latin American cinema production. The lineup lists everything from same-sex marriage biopics and political-crime thrillers to a ballet drama and a comedy about an art dealer’s woes.
Here’s a look at 8 of the 19 films showing at Película 2019.
Elisa and Marcela by Isabel Coixet
In this Netflix Original series, Elisa, a gay woman living in Spain in 1901, takes on the identity of a man named Mario to pass herself off as a heterosexual and marry her lover of 15 years, Marcela. Based on a true story, Elisa and Marcela’s union marks the first same-sex marriage recorded in Spain.
Cast: Natalia de Molina, Greta Fernandez, and Sara Casasnovas
Screening: Oct. 4 & Oct. 12
(El Reino) The Realm by Rodrigo Sorogoyen
A corrupt Spanish politician leading a lavish lifestyle threatens to bring down his entire political party after a newspaper exposes his illegal business dealings to the public.
Cast: Antonio dela Torre, Monica Lopez, and Jose Maria Pou
Screening: Oct. 5 & Oct. 12
(No Se Decir Adios) Can’t Say Goodbye by Lino Escaper
Carla, a woman from a small town in southern Spain, finds out that her estranged father is ill. Out of desperation and against the advice of everyone around her, she decides to travel with her father across the country to Barcelona in order to seek treatment and make up for the duo’s lost time together.
Cast: Juan Diego, Nathalie Poza, and Lola Dueñas
Screening: Oct. 5 & Oct. 10
(Mi Obra Maestra) My Masterpiece by Gastón Duprat
A comedy-drama revolving around a shady art dealer named Arturo and his long-time friend Renzo, a socially-awkward painter. The two come up with a risky and ambitious plan that will save them from … themselves. Dun dun dun.
Cast: Andrea Acatto, Lucas Aranda, and Raul Arevalo
Screening: Oct. 5 & Oct. 13
Yuli, by Icíar Bollaín
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAzbNQZya9o-
A biopic about legendary Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta (nicknamed Yuli by his father). Starring Acosta as, well, himself, the film follows him growing up in the streets of Havana to performing at the stage of London’s prestigious Royal Ballet.
Cast: Carlos Acosta, Santiago Alfonso, and Keyvin Martinez
Screening: Oct. 5 & Oct. 13
El Angel by Luis Ortega
Inspired by a true story, this Argentine-Spanish crime film follows Carlos, an angel-faced 17-year-old, who, unbeknownst to his victims, is a teenage psychopath involved in a string of lies, robbery, and murders.
Cast: Lorenzo Ferro, Cecilia Roth, and Luis Gnecco
Screening: Oct. 6
(El Mejor Verano de Mi Vida) The Best Summer of My Life by Dani de la Orden
Curro, a down-on-his-luck, cash-strapped salesman, tries to deliver a promise he made to his 9-year-old son: If the child gets good grades in school, then he will take him on an unforgettable summer vacation. Comedy and drama ensue.
Cast: Leo Harlem, Toni Acosta, and Maggie Civantos
Screening: Oct.6 & Oct.13
(El cuento de las Comadrejas) The Weasel’s Tale by Juan José Campanella
A cunning film director, a witty scriptwriter, a middle-aged actress, and her actor-husband share an unusual living arrangement in a mansion in the country. But the arrival of a young couple who wants them to sell the house threatens their peaceful co-habitation.
Cast: Graciela Borges, Oscar Martinez, and Luis Brandoni
Screening: Oct. 4 & Oct. 6
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